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Physio: Simple solutions to help overcome bladder issues

If you have a bladder issue, for example a bit of leakage when you cough or sneeze; if you know where every bathroom is when you go out shopping, you have a problem.

Chances are, you’ve never even spoken to your doctor about it.

Urinary incontinence, the involuntary loss of urine, is quite prevalent.

It’s estimated that 10 to 44 per cent of women experience it to some degree. From 50 to 70 per cent of urinary incontinence is unreported.

Stress incontinence can also affect men after a prostatectomy. Incontinence is not a normal part of the aging process.

There are two main types of bladder incontinence:

Stress incontinence is like a leaky faucet. The bladder leaks with effort or exertion (like a cough or a sneeze). This may be due to weakened pelvic floor muscles, an ineffective sphincter muscle along the urethra, relaxed ligament/fascial support of the pelvic organs, and/or hormonal changes.

It is a common symptom during and after menopause.

Urge incontinence is experienced with a strong urge to void, which is very hard to suppress.

The bladder is like an overactive pump.

Strong contractions of the smooth muscle in the bladder walls cause urine to leak out.

Triggers can be the sound of water running, or putting the key in the door when we’ve been out for a long walk.

Strong urge and increased frequency of urination can occur without leakage. This is sometimes known as overactive bladder syndrome.

Sensors near the pelvic floor muscles measure the strength of a voluntary contraction and provide feedback. It can be a valuable learning tool.

Using the upper abdominal muscles excessively can add to the problem.

There is a definite link between using the deepest layer of abdominals for proper support of the pelvic organs, and getting a stronger contraction of the pelvic floor muscles.

Specially trained physiotherapists can assess these bladder disorders, teach people with incontinence how to correctly perform specific exercises, advise how to retrain the bladder to improve continence control.

Many people don’t realize there is help out there for their issues, and spend large amounts of money on pads and incontinence products, or abstain from social events for fear of embarrassment.

With a few months of regular adherence to an exercise routine and lifestyle changes, moderate degrees of incontinence can be cured.

The first step is booking an appointment with a trained professional.

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